Author: Paris Drifts

Reflections on our most significant place in Paris

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For 2017 we’ve decided to reflect on the places in Paris that are the most significant to us, as well as ask some friends for their contributions. Lawrence Rue du Faubourg St. Denis, between Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle and Boulevard de Magenta Here is my favorite bar in the city. It’s called Mauri7, pronounced MORE-ISS-SET, MORE-EES-SET if you’re French.  Here there are beers for average prices and wine for cheap.  It’s two fifty for their house red, which you can ask for without embarrassment, as it should be. In my brokest months, I brought a flask filled with trash whiskey from the Lidl, ordered Coca-Cola and made myself endless mixed drinks that got stronger and stronger. They play good hip-hop.  It’s very busy on weekends.  There is a small smoking area in front cordoned off under a dark awning.  In the warm months it’s packed shoulder to shoulder, and a stocky bouncer polices its boundaries.  I saw him at the Franprix on Boulevard de Magenta once, but I didn’t speak to him – what was I …

Amsterdam

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                Coffee & Coconuts Ceintuurbaan 282-284, 1072 LR Amsterdam Possibly my favorite café in the world, I came to Coffee & Coconuts twice over a 3-day trip in Amsterdam. People seeking inspiration, a place to write/read/sketch/think, will find it here with the beanbag cushions, the hanging tables, the old theater-converted to a coffee shop venue, the sheer size of the place and of course, the coconut water you can drink straight from a young coconut! – A Van ‘t Spit http://vantspit.nl/ It’s not a café or a museum, but I can only describe the roast chicken at Van ‘t Spit as a spiritual experience. You have to wait for a good hour (maybe even two) before getting a table, but it’s more than worth it. My friend described the two chefs (twin brothers) as born on this earth to give us one gift and that gift was their roast chicken. The comfort level of this food, that satisfied feeling of eating well without eating too much, may inspire …

Fall Nature Walk

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The fall is our favorite season in Paris and we love making the most of it before winter comes. After those infamous long August vacations, September is the time to embrace la rentrée – or “back to school” – and there is a new and exciting energy throughout the city which continues through the autumn months. With this fresh start come new projects, ideas, businesses, and everyone feels recharged and ready to explore. Not to mention the weather: crisp, sunny fall days highlight Paris at it’s best, and inspire all kinds of adventures. One of our favorite things to do is take a fall nature walk, either in one of the many parks or just along an area with trees and greenery. As the leaves are changing, the urban landscape comes to life and this type of walk can be just what you need to clear your mind and get inspired by your surroundings. Prompt: take a fall nature walk in one of the places we recommend or your favorite outdoor spot. Absorb the nature and your …

From Russia With Love – Shchukin Collection Comes to Paris

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For the first time outside Russia, the Shchukin Collection, referred to as one of the world’s greatest collections of modern art, is going to be on display in Paris, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The collection is on loan from Moscow’s Tretyakov State Gallery and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, which I visited this July. The collection’s pieces are beautiful (it includes Matisse, Picasso, Monet and Gaugin), but getting to view them was an odyssey in and of itself. The modern art wing of the Hermitage is new and I had the impression that these masterpieces had been tucked away, accessible only to those who were willing to brave maze-like branches of the museum and questionable corridors. I’m looking forward to seeing them once again at Fondation Louis Vuitton, where I’m sure they will be in the spotlight this time around. Some of my favorite pieces from the collection The collection will be exhibited at the Fondation Louis Vuitton from October 22, 2016 – Feburary 20, 2017. Find out more: http://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/expositions/icones-de-l-art-moderne.html

Marché Aux Puces (Flea Market) de la Porte de Vanves

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Paris is famous for its flea markets and all the wonderful treasures to be found within them. We’ve written before about the pop-up brocantes (or mini flea markets) that happen almost every weekend rotating around various neighborhoods. But for the best finds it can be better to focus on the city’s larger markets, usually more of a time commitment due to location and size, but definitely worth the effort. The largest and most well known flea market is probably the Marché aux puces de Saint-Ouen, located just outside the city’s border near Porte de Clignancourt. It offers a mini village of individual vendors selling things ranging from antique furniture to vintage magazines, clothing and so much more. This market is truly an experience, and offers such a variety of items that it can definitely be worth the trip. One of our favorite markets in the complex is the Jules Vallès Market where there are a lot of well-priced finds to be had. That said, our recent impression of this market is that it’s become overpriced and a …

Paris in August

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Spending August in Paris and not sure how to survive the boulangerie closings, the Parisian exodus and the empty streets? Don’t worry, we have your back! Below are some of our suggestions to keep your creative juices and morale up in the midst of a Parisian August. Picnics No summer in Paris (let alone August) is complete without a few full-fledged picnics, lying out into the late afternoon on a towel, drinking picnic wine (aka cheap rosé or white) and running your bare feet through the grass. Some of our favorite spots — Buttes Chaumont (bonus: it’s open all night this summer), Canal de la Villette (if you prefer no grass), Jardin des Plantes, Square du Vert Galant. Courtyard of the Swedish Institute A new favorite summer spot, the courtyard of the Swedish Institute in the 4th offers free lawn chairs (in exchange, you have to check out a book from their pop-up library with an ID). Their stand serves up bagels, cinnamon rolls and refreshingly cold iced tea. If you lay back and open …

Conversation with a Paris-based creative: Ella Strowel

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We’ve decided to start a section featuring interviews with fellow creatives who live in Paris, to gain insight into how others are inspired by the urban landscape and the environment around them. Ella Strowel – Photographer Why did you move to Paris? I moved to Paris almost three years ago after having done a foundation year in London. I moved to Paris to study photography at Paris College of Art. What are your typical sources of inspiration?/ How do you find inspiration? I find most of my inspiration through looking at the work of other photographers and artists. Most of my inspiration comes from the work of photographers, however this year I enjoyed researching the work of sculptors for the project I am currently working on. I enjoy looking at photography books and going to exhibitions and shows in Paris. Another great source of inspiration is talking to peers and friends, those who know your work often have a great insight into what you should look at and research. Where is your favorite place in …

Mood board: visualize a creative idea

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Sometimes if you are in a creative rut making a mood board or collage can help inspire you. Kind of like Pinterest, but with real magazines/newspapers/printed materials. It can be useful to lay out a vision on paper, set a creative goal, or just collect images that speak to you. Get your hands on some magazines, catalogues, newspapers etc. and a few basic crafting materials (paper, scissors, glue, tape) and spend an afternoon flipping through and cutting out what catches your eye. Once you have a collection of images, play around with arranging them on a big piece of paper. How to they work together or conflict? Is there a common theme? Hopefully the result will be inspiring and maybe shed light on a new project idea or creative direction. This can apply to all creative practices! You might be surprised by what direction your board takes or reveals. ps this is a great rainy day activity, and fun to do alone or with friends. Annie: Nora:

Montparnasse: A Guide Inspired by The Dud Avocado

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Inspired by one of our favorite books about Paris, we decided to spend an afternoon in the Montparnasse neighborhood, formerly a happening bohemian scene in the 1920s and then again in the late 1950s. Now less of a nightlife destination, we were curious to see what the area still has to offer and also to check out the hotspots of Sally-Jay Gorce, the book’s young American protagonist. Although The Dud Avocado is a work of fiction, it’s based on the reality of this once booming left bank neighborhood and the lives of the creative, free spirits who spent time there. Settling in with tea at her go-to bar, Le Select, we tried to imagine the environment as it was 60 years ago– filled with intriguing artists, French regulars sweating out their drinks, and East Coast crossovers. “The waiters at the Select comported themselves with that slightly theatrical mixture of charm, complicity and contempt that one would expect from servants in Hell.” pg. 93 The Dud Avocado Explore the neighborhood in the present: – Pay a pilgrimage to …

Take the Metro to a random stop

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Sometimes a random adventure is the best way to discover the best parts of a city! For this prompt, use the public transportation system as a guide and pick a random stop you’ve never been to. Get off there and walk in one direction for 10-15 minutes recording what you see with either photos or writing. Take notes on your impressions of the area, the people there, and use your observations to create a neighborhood profile. You might be surprised at what you find! Most of the world’s big cities have comprehensive public transportation systems, and riding them is a great way to explore and get to know the area. Remember: many of our ideas can be done in any urban environment! Nora: Metro stop: Porte de la Villette (Line 7) The edges of Paris next to the Blvd Périphérique are often neglected and overlooked as just the transition zones between the city and its surrounding suburbs. But recently more interesting spots have been popping up and make the trip to the outskirts worth it. I …